FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
$50 Million Pledged to Community Hunger Relief in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic
Appreciation pay for frontline team members extended to May 2
Albertsons Companies, parent company of The United Family, today announced a $50 million commitment to hunger relief across the 2,200+ neighborhoods it serves in 34 states and the District of Columbia through its Nourishing Neighbors Community Relief campaign.
“This time of extraordinary need demands an unprecedented response,” said President and CEO Vivek Sankaran. “The basic needs of many of our neighbors have been threatened like never before. With a strong presence in more than 2,200 communities, we are committing an additional $50 million to help ensure that people in our neighborhoods have access to the healthy food they need. We are hopeful that more companies will join us and use our broad hunger relief network to distribute help locally, where it is needed most.”
Currently, The United Family contributes food, money and volunteers to more than 20 food banks and food pantries to assist our neighbors dealing with food insecurity in the communities served by our stores: United Supermarkets, Market Street, Amigos and Albertsons Market. Likewise, Albertsons Companies has a long-standing commitment to hunger relief and well-developed relationships with partner organizations distributing food to those most in need. All of the company’s donations from Nourishing Neighbors Community Relief will stay local to provide funds to fight hunger in the following ways:
- Help keep food banks stocked so they can respond to increased demand
- Support emergency meal distribution programs at schools
- Support senior centers and other programs that provide meals and food to seniors
“We know the needs of our hunger-relief community partners have increased substantially as this pandemic continues, and we are proud to be part of a company that makes a national commitment over and above what we already do in the communities we serve. This $50 million gift will put meals on the tables of our neighbors in need,” said Robert Taylor, CEO of the United Family.
In addition to helping neighbors in need, the company is continuing its previously-announced Appreciation Pay program for its hourly frontline team members — temporarily providing an additional $2 per hour beyond regular pay and overtime and $100 per week to salaried frontline team members. The initiative began on March 15 and is in place until May 2 for United Family team members.
Sidney Hopper, president of The United Family, said, “Our retail teams, along with distribution and manufacturing facility team members have been on the front lines of keeping the supply chain moving and our stores ready to serve guests. I couldn’t be more proud of their work and their attitude,” said Sidney Hopper, president of The United Family.
Early in the crisis, Albertsons Companies collaborated with a number of hotel, restaurant, airline, retail and distribution companies to provide opportunities for furloughed workers. The company has hired more than 50,000 people in the last six weeks, and continues to work with more than 35 companies to help keep Americans working.
As the world has navigated this public health crisis together, Albertsons Companies made its top priority the health and safety of team members, guests, and communities. Its stores have implemented a number of safety measures, including enhanced cleaning protocols, social distancing markers, one-way aisles, limited store occupancy, masks for team members, health screenings, Plexiglas barriers, and more. Albertsons Companies and the UFCW are also seeking a temporary designation of “extended first responders” or “emergency personnel” for supermarket team members to ensure that they are prioritized for testing and provided personal protection equipment.
About Albertsons Companies
Locally great and nationally strong, Albertsons Companies is one of the largest food and drug retailers in the United States. We operate stores across 34 states and the District of Columbia under 20 well-known banners including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen and Carrs. Albertsons Companies is committed to helping people across the country live better lives by making a meaningful difference, neighborhood by neighborhood. In 2019 alone, along with the Albertsons Companies Foundation, the company gave $225 million in food and financial support. These efforts helped millions of people in the areas of hunger relief, education, cancer research and treatment, programs for people with disabilities and veterans’ outreach.
About The United Family®
In its 104th year of operation, United Supermarkets, LLC – d.b.a. The United Family – is a Texas-based grocery chain with stores in 53 communities in Texas and New Mexico. A self-distributing company with headquarters and their distribution center in Lubbock, The United Family currently operates 94 stores under five unique banners: United Supermarkets, Market Street, Amigos, Albertsons Market and United Express, along with ancillary operations R.C. Taylor Distributing, Praters and Llano Logistics. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Albertsons Companies. For more information, please visit www.theunitedfamily.com.
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